“Found a way to hit the wrong shot at the wrong time”: Heartbroken Rory McIlroy gets honest about his 2024 season

Rory McIlroy has been in contention for several significant trophies this season, however, he has failed to capture most of them. Notably, the World No. 3 golfer faced a collapse at the 2024 US Open and also faded down the stretch after three good rounds at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While far from a poor season, it's not what the Irishman had in mind and something he had to reflect on as the regular season has officially concluded.

McIlroy said (via "GolfMonthly" on X):

"I just have to finish off tournaments better. There's been glimpses where I have done it. Like Quail Hollow, for example. But obviously the US Open, Olympics. I feel like this year and maybe the last couple of years I've just found a way to hit the wrong shot at the wrong time."

Despite an underwhelming season by his standards, McIlroy made it into the FedEx Cup Playoffs with ease and is still one of golf's best players. He is currently ranked third in the world behind Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

These next three weeks will determine the PGA Tour champion, beginning today with the FedEx St. Jude Championship. McIlroy can somewhat rewrite the narrative with three good weeks ending in a championship.

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Rory McIlroy crowns Scottie Scheffler after 2024 regular season

There are still three tournaments left on the PGA Tour, but Rory McIlroy would take Scottie Scheffler's season over anyone else's right now. The American had a historic season, but so did Xander Schauffele.

When asked whether he would prefer having a season like Scheffler's six-win season with an Olympic medal or Schauffele's two-major season, McIlroy, as quoted by "Mirror", replied:

"Scottie's. I think winning the Masters, an Olympic gold medal, winning, whatever it is, six times, it's pretty hard to top that."

Scheffler won six times this season, which includes the Masters, the Players Championship, and four Signature Events. To top it all off, the World No. 1 also clinched the Olympic gold medal in the French capital.

Meanwhile, Schauffele won his first two Majors, the PGA Championship and Open Championship.

Rory McIlroy praised Scottie Scheffler (Imagn)

Scheffler's performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which included an improbable comeback to win the gold medal in the fourth round, particularly left McIlroy impressed. He called it one of the best rounds of golf he'd ever seen.

"For him to just keep it going, he's amazing even when you think he's not really in the tournament or he's sort of on the fringes of contention. He always seems to find a way to hit the shots or hole the putts."

Rory McIlroy said he'd called Scheffler "relentless" and the Olympics was proof of that characteristic. He added Scheffler has been good for a couple of years, and as a fan of the game, it's been "really cool" to watch.